Method for managing a communicating meter

Abstract

A method (100) for managing a battery-powered communicating meter, for measuring the consumption of a fluid, the meter having a unit of measurement for acquiring measurements of fluid consumption.The meter has three operating modes: - a nominal operating mode in which the measuring unit performs measurements at a predetermined nominal frequency, - a degraded operating mode in which the measuring unit performs measurements at a predetermined degraded frequency lower than the nominal frequency, and - a minimum operating mode in which the measuring unit performs measurements at the predetermined degraded frequency, and a meter control unit performs the following steps: - perform an estimate of the remaining capacity of the meter's battery; - command the meter to switch from the nominal operating mode to the degraded operating mode when said estimate is less than or equal to a first threshold (T1); and - command the meter to switch from the degraded operating mode to the minimum operating mode when said estimate is less than or equal to a second threshold (T2).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to the field of battery-powered communicating meters comprising a measuring unit and more particularly relates to the field of management of battery-powered communicating meters to preserve the integrity of the measurements when the battery reaches the end of its life. STATE OF PRIOR ART

[0002] As is well known, the Internet of Things (IoT) is expanding rapidly. The Internet of Things represents the extension of the Internet to things and places in the physical world. While the Internet does not usually extend beyond the electronic world, the Internet of Things represents the exchange of information and data from devices in the real world to the Internet, such as for collecting water consumption readings or for remote monitoring of environmental conditions (temperature, pressure, etc.). The Internet of Things is considered the third evolution of the Internet, called Web 3.0. The Internet of Things has a universal character to designate connected objects with varied uses, for example in the field of e-health or home automation.

[0003] A first approach adopted to interconnect objects, called communicating objects ("IoT devices" in English), within the framework of the Internet of Things, relies on a deployment, controlled by an operator, of collection gateways located at geographically high points. Excluding maintenance operations, these gateways are fixed and permanent. Examples of this model include the SigFox (registered trademark) or ThingPark (registered trademark) networks. For example, in France, the SigFox (registered trademark) network relies on the high points of the TDF ("Télédiffusion De France") transmission sites. These collection gateways communicate with communicating objects using medium or long-range radio communication systems (e.g., the LoRa (registered trademark) system from the company Semtech).This approach relies on a limited number of collection gateways (difficulty in deploying new network infrastructures), as well as reliable and secure uplink access with one or more collection servers.

[0004] A second approach involves connecting communicating objects through residential gateways. One example is Energy Gateway technology. A system using Energy Gateway technology is made up of two distinct parts: on the one hand, a residential gateway and peripheral sensors, which are hosted at the consumer's premises and which enable the collection of information, the transmission of this information to a collection server, as well as the control of the triggering of various actions (control of the activation of radiators or the water heater, for example); on the other hand, the collection server which ensures the provision of the information received and the transmission of commands for the control of the triggering of various actions. This collection server is accessible via the Internet.The radio technologies used to communicate with communicating objects according to this second approach are relatively short-range (for example, Zigbee (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi (registered trademark)) to serve local collection restricted to household objects.

[0005] Such communicating objects typically include one or more sensors, and are typically powered by batteries. One challenge lies in preserving the battery life, and more specifically in ensuring the operation of the essential functionalities of such communicating objects throughout the battery life.

[0006] It is desirable to overcome these disadvantages of the state of the art. In particular, it is desirable to provide a solution that ensures the integrity of the data stored and / or provided by these communicating objects when their batteries reach the end of their life, while minimizing the additional hardware cost that such a solution would entail. It should be noted that additional hardware cost generally results in greater bulk (for example, capacitive elements are more expensive and bulkier than transistors or resistors).

[0007] Thus, it is desirable to provide a method for managing a communicating object making it possible to guarantee the supply of electrical energy to the communicating object for a predefined duration.

[0008] Communicating objects are, for example, communicating meters and the invention makes it possible to extend the capacity of the batteries to supply electrical energy to the communicating meter for a predefined period while guaranteeing optimal measurements of fluid consumption (gas, water, etc.).

[0009] In the state of the art, mention may be made of documents EP 3975202 A1, US10154460 B1, US 2001 / 054967 A1, US 2014 / 077964 A1, and US 2003 / 014198 A1. STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention is defined by the independent claims.

[0011] Preferred embodiments are defined by the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The above-mentioned features of the invention, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of at least one exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the attached drawings, among which: [ Fig. 1 ] schematically illustrates an example of hardware architecture of a communicating battery meter; [ Fig. 2 ] schematically illustrates an example of hardware architecture of a control unit of a communicating meter; and [ Fig. 3 ] is a flowchart of a method for managing a communicating meter powered by battery(ies). DETAILED PRESENTATION OF IMPLEMENTATION METHODS Battery-powered communicating meter

[0013] In reference to the Fig. 1 , a communicating object powered by a battery 2 is proposed. The term “battery” should be understood as being a single battery, or a set of batteries jointly providing an autonomous source of electrical energy.

[0014] The present invention is described in a particular embodiment where the communicating object is a fluid meter 1, i.e. adapted and configured to measure consumption of a fluid (water, gas, etc.). The present invention is also applicable to communicating objects such as temperature, pressure, humidity sensors, etc.

[0015] The meter 1 comprises in particular a measuring unit 4 for acquiring measurements, a communication unit 6, a signaling unit 8 for emitting alarm signals, and a control unit 10.

[0016] Typically, the measuring unit 4 can be adapted and configured to measure water consumption, or consumption of another fluid such as gas. As such, the measuring unit 4 comprises known means for measuring (metrology) and monitoring water consumption.

[0017] The communication unit 6 comprises a set of communication devices allowing the transmission of the measurements acquired by the measurement unit 4, for example to a collection gateway or to a residential gateway.

[0018] Typically, the communication unit 6 comprises communication devices via a telephone network, via the Internet (IP communication protocols, via a LoRa system (registered trademark) from the company Semtech, via a Wi-Fi system (registered trademark), via a ZigBee type system (registered trademark), via a Bluetooth type system (registered trademark), via a low-power wide area network LPWAN system (Low Power Wide Area Network), or via a cellular network dedicated to the Internet of Things of the NB-IOT type (Narrowband Internet Of Things) or LTE Cat-M type (Long Term Evolution - Category Machine).

[0019] As will be detailed below, the meter 1, through its communication unit 6, can favor certain communication channels depending on the state of charge of the battery 2 and depending on the nature of the data to be transmitted.

[0020] The signaling unit 8 comprises electronic circuitry for emitting alarm signals. Typically, the signaling unit may comprise means for emitting optical signals (e.g., light-emitting diodes). In addition, the signaling unit 8 may transmit alarm signals via the communication unit 6 for transmitting the alarm signals to remote units via wireless systems as previously stated.

[0021] The control unit 10 comprises electronic circuitry for controlling and coordinating all of the previously mentioned units (measuring unit 4, communication unit 6, signaling unit 8). In addition, the control unit 10 is adapted to implement a management method detailed below.

[0022] There Fig. 2schematically illustrates an example of hardware architecture of the control unit 10. According to this example, the control unit 10 comprises, connected by a communication bus 12: a processor or CPU (Central Processing Unit) 14; a RAM (Random Access Memory) 16; a ROM (Read Only Memory) 18; a storage unit or a storage media reader, such as an SD (Secure Digital) card reader 20; a set of interfaces 22 allowing the control unit 10 to communicate with the other elements of the hardware architecture presented above in relation to the Fig. 1 .

[0023] The processor 14 is capable of executing instructions loaded into the RAM 16 from the ROM 18, from an external memory, from a storage medium, or possibly from a communication network. When the control unit 10 is powered up, the processor 14 is capable of reading instructions from the RAM 16 and executing them. These instructions form a computer program causing the implementation, by the processor 14, of all or part of the management method described below.

[0024] Thus, all or part of the management method described below can be implemented in software form by executing a set of instructions by a programmable machine, such as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or a microcontroller. All or part of the algorithms and steps described here can also be implemented in hardware form by a machine or a dedicated component, such as an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit). Management process

[0025] According to a second aspect, a method 100 is proposed for managing a communicating meter 1 powered by a battery, for measuring a consumption of a fluid.

[0026] The management method 100 distinguishes three operating modes of the meter 1: a nominal operating mode, a degraded operating mode and a minimal operating mode.

[0027] These different modes will be detailed below.

[0028] In the case, for example, of a meter 1 having a lifespan of the order of 10 years to 20 years, the method 100 can be carried out at a frequency of one or more weeks.

[0029] The management process 100, as schematically illustrated in the Fig. 3 , allows the activation and deactivation of these three modes to be controlled. In other words, the management method 100 allows the switching of the counter 1 from the nominal operating mode to the degraded operating mode, from the degraded operating mode to the minimal operating mode, from the degraded operating mode to the nominal operating mode, and from the minimal operating mode to the nominal operating mode to be controlled.

[0030] In a particularly clever way, the transition from one mode to another is carried out based on an estimate of the remaining capacity of battery 2.

[0031] The remaining capacity of the battery is an estimate of a duration during which the battery 2 will be able to supply energy to the meter. More precisely, the management method 100 comprises a step E300 in which the control unit makes an estimate of the remaining capacity of the battery 2 of the meter 1. Typically, the estimate of the remaining capacity of the battery 2 can be made using a coulombmeter using a table associating with each operating mode of the meter 1 an energy consumed per unit of time and by accumulating the consumed energies over time, or by measuring the current flowing in the battery 2.

[0032] Depending on the estimate 108, the control unit 10 performs a step E301 of comparing the estimate with two thresholds T1 and T2. If the estimate is less than or equal to a first threshold T1, the control unit goes to a step E303 and commands, in a step E304, the passage of the counter 1 from the nominal operating mode to the degraded operating mode.

[0033] The threshold T1 is determined as proportional to a predefined duration Tvie during which the meter 1 must be supplied with electrical energy from which is subtracted the period of time since the meter was put into service Tserv. T 1 = K 1 * Tvie − Tserv

[0034] For example, the predefined duration is 5 years and K1 is equal to 80%.

[0035] The threshold T2 is determined as proportional to a predefined duration Tvie during which the meter 1 must be supplied with electrical energy from which is subtracted the period of time since the meter was put into service Tserv. T 1 = K 2 * Tvie − Tserv

[0036] For example, the predefined duration is 5 years and K2 is equal to 50%.

[0037] If the estimate is less than or equal to a second threshold T2, then the control unit 10 goes to a step E302 and commands, at a step E309, the transition of the counter 1 from the degraded operating mode to the minimal operating mode.

[0038] It is specified that the second threshold T2 is lower than the first threshold T1.

[0039] As will be detailed below, switching to nominal operating mode, degraded operating mode or minimal operating mode impacts the measurement frequency and the actions carried out by counter 1. Nominal operating mode

[0040] In nominal operating mode, the measuring unit 4 performs measurements at a predetermined nominal frequency.

[0041] In a particular embodiment, the nominal frequency is between 6Hz and 10Hz. Preferably, the nominal frequency is 8Hz.

[0042] In addition, in nominal operating mode, the meter 1 performs actions chosen from: transmitting the collected measurements at a first predetermined periodicity, updating a program of the meter 1 or at least one functionality of the meter 1, authorizing communication via a wireless or optical communication device, transmitting a backup of the measurements at a second predetermined periodicity, emitting an alarm signal for detecting an anomaly.

[0043] More specifically, the transmission of the collected measurements at a first predetermined frequency can, for example, be carried out once a day. This transmission can be carried out by the transmission unit 6 to a server of a fluid supplier (typically a drinking water supplier in the case of a meter 1 making it possible to measure water consumption).

[0044] In nominal operating mode, the action of updating a program of the meter 1 can be carried out at any time and can concern all of the programs allowing the operation of the meter 1. The update can be carried out via the communication unit 6. Preferably, the updates are carried out according to a method called FOTA (“Firmware Over The Air” in English, which can be translated as program by wireless link).

[0045] In nominal operating mode, the management method 100 authorizes the use of all the ports and technologies of the communication unit 6.

[0046] In nominal operating mode, the management method 100 allows the meter 1, via the communication unit 6, to transmit a backup of the measurements at a second predetermined frequency. Preferably, the backup transmission of the measurements is carried out once a day. Typically, the backups can be transmitted to a server controlled by a fluid supplier (typically a drinking water supplier in the case of a meter 1 making it possible to measure water consumption).

[0047] In nominal operating mode, the management method makes it possible to emit an alarm signal for detecting an anomaly. In nominal operating mode, the alarm signal for detecting an anomaly may concern the detection of a fluid leak, or the detection of fraud, or, for example, the detection of fluid flowing in the opposite direction.

[0048] Furthermore, in nominal operating mode, the management method 100 authorizes the transmission, at a fourth predetermined periodicity, of supervision frames comprising data relating to the pressure of the fluid, the presence of the fluid or the temperature of the fluid. Order of priority

[0049] In a particularly clever manner, the management method 100 associates a priority level with each action that can be carried out by the counter 1, which defines an order of priority in the actions that can be carried out by the counter 1. The order of priority makes it possible to modify or interrupt the actions successively, depending on the estimate of the remaining capacity of the battery 2.

[0050] Thus, according to one embodiment, the actions can be prioritized as follows (from the lowest priority to the highest priority): transmit a backup of the measurements at a second predetermined periodicity, authorize communication via a wireless or optical communication device, emit an alarm signal for detecting fluid flowing in the opposite direction or for detecting the presence of fluid, transmit supervision frames, update a program of the meter 1 or at least one functionality of the meter 1, transmit collected measurements at the first predetermined periodicity, emit an alarm signal for detecting a fluid leak or fraud.

[0051] It is specified that the measurement of fluid consumption has the highest order of priority. Degraded operating mode

[0052] As indicated previously, when the estimate of the remaining capacity of the battery 2 is less than or equal to a first threshold T1, then the management method 100 triggers the transition of the counter 1 to degraded operating mode.

[0053] In degraded operating mode, the actions listed above are modified or interrupted, preferably depending on their priority level.

[0054] Thus, as schematized in Fig. 3, if meter 1 is in nominal operating mode and the capacity estimate is less than or equal to the first threshold T1, then meter 1 will switch to degraded operating mode. During this first switch to degraded operating mode, meter 1 will modify the action of transmitting a backup of the measurements at the second predetermined frequency. In degraded operating mode, this action is carried out according to the fourth predetermined frequency. Preferably, the fourth predetermined frequency is once a week.

[0055] Thus, by switching to degraded operating mode, meter 1 will transmit a backup of the measurements (fluid consumption) according to the fourth predetermined periodicity.

[0056] This modification of the periodicity of transmission of backup measurements tends to reduce the consumption of battery 2. The estimate of the remaining capacity of battery 2 is recalculated and recompared in step E305 (comparison) with the thresholds T1 and T2. If this estimate remains lower than or equal to the first threshold T1, then the next action in the prioritization list is modified or interrupted. Preferably, the local wireless transmissions are suspended. This modification or interruption tends to reduce the consumption of battery 2. The estimate of the remaining capacity of battery 2 is recalculated and recompared (comparison) with the thresholds T1 and T2. If this estimate remains lower than or equal to the first threshold T1, then the next action in the prioritization list is modified or interrupted.Preferably, the transmissions of alarms for detecting fluid flowing in the opposite direction are suspended, and only the transmissions of alarms for detecting the presence of fluid are maintained. This modification or interruption tends to reduce the consumption of the battery 2. The estimate of the remaining capacity of the battery 2 is recalculated and recompared in step E305 with the thresholds T1 and T2. If this estimate remains lower than or equal to the first threshold, then the next action in the prioritization list is modified or interrupted. Preferably, the action of transmitting supervision frames is interrupted. This modification or interruption tends to reduce the consumption of the battery 2. The estimate of the remaining capacity of the battery 2 is recalculated and recompared (comparison) with the thresholds T1 and T2. If this estimate remains lower than or equal to the first threshold T1, then the next action in the prioritization list is modified or interrupted.Preferably, the update of a program of the meter 1 or of at least one functionality of the meter 1 is modified so that only the updates of the measurement unit 4 are carried out (thus, the updates of the communication unit 6, the updates of various application software and the updates of various supervision software are temporarily suspended). This modification or interruption tends to reduce the consumption of the battery 2. The estimate of the remaining capacity of the battery 2 is recalculated and recompared (comparison) with the thresholds T1 and T2. If this estimate remains lower than or equal to the first threshold T1, then the next action in the prioritization list is modified or interrupted. Preferably, the transmission of the collected measurements at a first predetermined periodicity is modified. In degraded operating mode, the measurements are transmitted at a third predetermined periodicity.Preferably, the third periodicity corresponds to two emissions per month. This modification or interruption tends to reduce the consumption of battery 2. The estimate of the remaining capacity of battery 2 is recalculated and recompared (comparison) with the thresholds T1 and T2. If this estimate remains lower than or equal to the first threshold T1, then the next action in the prioritization list is modified or interrupted. Preferably, the emission of an alarm signal for detecting a leak or fraud is modified. Preferably, in degraded operating mode, meter 1 no longer emits an alarm signal for detecting fraud. This modification or interruption tends to reduce the consumption of battery 2. The estimate of the remaining capacity of battery 2 is recalculated and recompared (comparison) with the thresholds T1 and T2.If this estimate remains lower than or equal to the first threshold T1, then the next action in the prioritization list is modified or interrupted. Preferably, the frequency of measurement of the fluid consumption is modified. In degraded operating mode, the meter 1 performs measurements at a degraded frequency. In a particular embodiment, the degraded frequency is between 1 Hz and 3 Hz. Preferably, the degraded frequency is 2 Hz.

[0057] In a particularly advantageous manner, the use of a degraded operating mode in which actions are prioritized and in which the measurement frequency is modified makes it possible to preserve the remaining capacity of battery 2 while guaranteeing a capacity for measuring fluid consumption.

[0058] If the estimate of the remaining capacity of the battery becomes greater than a third predetermined threshold T3, then the management method proceeds to step E307 and switches the meter from the degraded operating mode to the nominal operating mode in step E308. Typically, if in the installation environment of the meter 1, the radio transmission conditions improve, then the communication unit 6 will consume less energy and the estimate of the remaining capacity of the battery 2 may increase. The third threshold T3 corresponds to a hysteresis making it possible to ensure that the estimate of the remaining capacity of the battery 2 has increased sufficiently to switch from the degraded operating mode to the nominal operating mode (so as to avoid a rapid oscillation phenomenon between the nominal operating mode and the degraded operating mode).

[0059] For example, the threshold T3 is determined as proportional to a predefined duration Tvie during which meter 1 must be supplied with electrical energy from which is subtracted the period of time since the meter was put into service Tserv. T3=K3*(Tvie-Tserv) with K3= 0.95 or 1.

[0060] On the other hand, if the estimate of the remaining capacity of battery 2 continues to decrease and becomes lower than a second threshold T2, then the management method goes to step E306 and switches counter 1 to stop mode in step E309. Minimal operating mode

[0061] In minimal operating mode, only fluid consumption measurements are performed. Fluid consumption measurement is performed at the degraded frequency. Other actions performed by meter 1 are interrupted.

Claims

1. Method (100) for managing a communicating meter (1) supplied by cell (2), for measuring consumption of a fluid, the meter (1) comprising a measurement unit (4) for acquiring measurements of consumption of the fluid, the meter (1) having three operating modes available: - a nominal operating mode in which the measurement unit (4) makes measurements at a predetermined nominal frequency, in nominal operating mode the meter (1) performs actions selected from: transmitting the collected measurements at a first predetermined periodicity, updating a program of the meter (1) or of at least one functionality of the meter (1), enabling a communication via a wireless or optical communication member, transmitting a backup of the measurements at a second predetermined periodicity, sending an alarm signal for detection of an anomaly. - a degraded operating mode in which the measurement unit (4) makes measurements at a predetermined degraded frequency lower than the nominal frequency, and - a minimum operating mode in which the measurement unit (4) makes measurements at a predetermined degraded frequency, wherein a control unit (10) of the meter (1) performs the following steps: - making an estimation of the remaining capacity of the cell (2) of the meter (1); - requesting that the meter (1) passes from the nominal operating mode to the degraded operating mode when said estimation is below or equal to a first threshold, T1; and - requesting that the meter (1) passes from the degraded operating mode to the minimum operating mode when said estimation is below or equal to a second threshold, T2. wherein, in degraded operating mode and in minimum operating mode, the meter (1) obtains an associated priority level for each action selected, and the meter (1) modifies or interrupts the action according to the priority level associated with the action, wherein, if the estimation of the remaining capacity of the cell becomes higher than a third predetermined threshold, then the meter passes from the degraded operating mode to the nominal operating mode, the third threshold, T3, corresponding to a hysteresis making it possible to ensure that the estimation of the remaining capacity of the cell (2) has sufficiently increased to pass from the degraded operating mode to the nominal operating mode.

2. Method (100) according to claim 1, wherein, in degraded operating mode, the meter (1) transmits the collected measurements at a third predetermined periodicity.

3. Method (100) according to either one of claims 1 or 2, wherein, in degraded operating mode, the meter (1) updates solely a program of the measurement unit (4).

4. Method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, in degraded operating mode, the meter (1) transmits a backup of the measurements at a fourth predetermined periodicity.

5. Method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, in degraded operating mode, the meter (1) enables solely a communication via an optical communication member.

6. Method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the nominal frequency lies between 6 Hz and 10 Hz.

7. Method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the degraded frequency lies between 1 Hz and 3 Hz.

8. Communicating meter (1) supplied by cell (2), for measuring consumption of a fluid, the meter (1) comprising a measurement unit (4) for acquiring measurements of consumption of the fluid, the meter (1) having three operating modes available: - a nominal operating mode in which the measurement unit (4) makes measurements at a predetermined nominal frequency, in nominal operating mode the meter (1) performs actions selected from: transmitting the collected measurements at a first predetermined periodicity, updating a program of the meter (1) or of at least one functionality of the meter (1), enabling a communication via a wireless or optical communication member, transmitting a backup of the measurements at a second predetermined periodicity, sending an alarm signal for detection of an anomaly. - a degraded operating mode in which the measurement unit (4) makes measurements at a predetermined degraded frequency lower than the nominal frequency, and - a minimum operating mode in which the measurement unit (4) makes measurements at a predetermined degraded frequency, wherein a control unit (10) of the meter (1) comprises electronic circuitry configured for: - making an estimation of the remaining capacity of the cell (2) of the meter (1); - requesting that the meter (1) passes from the nominal operating mode (101) to the degraded operating mode when said estimation is below or equal to a first threshold (T1); and - requesting that the meter (1) passes from the degraded operating mode to the minimum operating mode when said estimation is below or equal to a second threshold (T2), wherein, in degraded operating mode and in minimum operating mode, the meter (1) obtains an associated priority level for each action selected, and the meter (1) modifies or interrupts the action according to the priority level associated with the action, - if the estimation of the remaining capacity of the cell becomes higher than a third predetermined threshold, the meter passes from the degraded operating mode to the nominal operating mode, the third threshold T3 corresponding to a hysteresis making it possible to ensure that the estimation of the remaining capacity of the cell (2) has sufficiently increased to pass from the degraded operating mode to the nominal operating mode.

9. Computer program product comprising program code instructions for executing the management method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, when said instructions are executed by a processor of a communicating meter supplied by cell according to claim 8.

10. Non-transient storage medium on which a computer program product is stored, comprising program code instructions for executing the management method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, when said instructions are read from said non-transient storage medium and executed by a processor of a communicating meter supplied by cell according to claim 8.

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